Anita Frost Interview Part III - Look for the opportunities

Curricula and Co’s Entrepreneur Academy sees start-up owners attend once a month, and fortnightly for training sessions, in order to stay sharp and focused. Many have accessed finance such as grants and funding opportunities, so that they can invest into their business, as well as upskilling themselves as leaders. ​

Interview Part 1

Interview Part 2

Part 3

‘They come to us more often for training because they are pioneering and moving things forward. We now that these businesses will be in a great position in these coming months, as they are capitalising on what is right in front of them in terms of training and finance, Anita says. ‘As well as business education, others are coming to us just to discuss the challenges they are facing - they need mentorship for their career paths”.

Mentorship is an important part of success - listening to those who have gone before us, and can offer helpful tips. Anita accesses mentorship through books - mentioned in the previous post - and courses. She is about to start a leadership course that lasts for 10 weeks. Even though she has been leading a business for a number of years, she knows that she will always need input and mentorship for herself. 
Curricula and Co’s Entrepreneur Academy has not changed much about its services during lockdown, other than simply making themselves available. 
‘We are really focused on the needs of our clients. Since this has happened, we have sharpened our focus, because we know the economy is in crisis. Business people need clear guidance and tools to help move their business forward. Our services are the same, but practically, we a  we are focussed more on the immediate needs of businesses for extra training and support. ​

‘This current crisis is temporary. We need to remember this. If we look back to history, we can see all these famines, plagues and wars, and so many people who have continued to prosper and do great things. It’s about making that all-important decision -  Do you want to thrive, or be held back? 

Even if you don’t have a business, and are either in a job or currently unemployed, the best place to focus your energy is on finding and taking hold of the opportunities that are there. Now is the perfect time to dissect and rebuild your CV - make it creative, turn it into something that stands out to employers. Believe it or not, companies are still hiring! Maybe the industry you really want to work in, or is relevant to your degree, is not booming right now, but figure out which industries are looking for new employees, and apply for those jobs. Whichever industry you are working in, you are gaining skills and valuable experience that will show employers that you have been using your time well during this lockdown - you are still adding to your CV, and when the time comes for your industry to pick up again, the first thing bosses will do is look at what you have been doing at this time.

Use this time to volunteer, help people, try learning a new skill!

​Be adaptable, and be prepared to work at something that may not be exactly what you hoped for. But at the same time, keep informed about your industry, and be aware of changes. ​

“Whatever your situation, you have something to be hopeful about!”, says Anita. “It’s a mindset. You could have studied your whole life and invested a lot of student finance into something that is not hiring right now, but that doesn’t mean it’ll be forever’.
“We have been in touch with people who are doing apprenticeships and different things to stand out. You could do a six month internship. Young people, especially, can get apprenticeships and traineeships to keep their CV alive and standing out”. 
Now could even be the perfect time to re-think your whole career. It could push you in a direction you may not have even considered. If you have had a job loss, DO NOT feel like a failure! Yes, it’s a hard situation to deal with. You have bills to pay and outgoings to account for. But take this time to take stock of your skills, gifts, talents, and what you enjoy. You may have a hobby that could be used to earn money, that could become a business in the future.

Think about what people need. At the moment, people need to boost their morale, as a result of isolation, and not being able to see loved ones as often - so many of us are turning our hand to creativity, or taking up art. Perhaps you have a skill you could teach people, so that they can make and sell things? 

There are so many voices shouting about what you can’t do. But what CAN you do? How can you work around things and be resourceful? It can be helpful to get out your pen and paper and write out what you can do, and what the possibilities are - it’s a good way of getting stuff out of your head so you can make sense of it. ​

But if you are feeling overwhelmed by fear, please get into contact with us at Curricula and Co - just a phonecall could be the thing that pushes you towards a new way of thinking. Whatever you do, don’t be isolated and alone at this time. 
It’s when we need each other the most. We need to encourage and build each other up, because we can get through this. We have come through crazy things before, as individuals, as families and as a nation. Let’s be kind and spur each other on!